# US 2003/0167705 A1 · Window well with increased in-ground stability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2003/0167705 A1 - Document ID: US20030167705A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/361,372 - Filed: 2003-02-10 - Published: 2003-09-11 - Earliest claimed: 2002-02-11 - Assignees: Mar-Flex Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Brett Oakley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20030167705A1 ## CPC - E04F 17/06: Light shafts, e.g. for cellars - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract Window well assembly of the type adapted for below soil grade attachment to a foundational structure adjacent a basement window or the like. The assembly includes a bottom member adapted to provide a drainage site, and an upstanding generally arcuately shaped wall surrounding said bottom member and having a pair of laterally opposed upstanding edge boundaries. The upstanding wall has an interior surface facing said basement window and exterior surface facing away from the window for anchoring the assembly in said soil. The exterior surface comprises at least one arcuately shaped gripping rib. Each gripping rib comprises an inclined protruding top wall sloping upwardly proceeding radially inwardly from the exterior surface toward the interior and a generally horizontal bottom wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Window well assembly of the type adapted for below soil grade attachment to a foundational structure adjacent a basement window or the like, said assembly comprising a bottom member adapted to provide a drainage site, an upstanding wall surrounding said bottom member and having a pair of laterally opposed upstanding edge boundaries, said upstanding wall having an interior surface facing said basement window and an exterior surface facing away from said window for anchoring said assembly in said soil, said exterior surface comprising at least one gripping rib, each said gripping rib comprising an inclined protruding top wall sloping upwardly proceeding radially inwardly from said exterior toward said interior and a generally horizontal bottom wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Window well assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said assembly includes an imaginary horizontal plane passing therethrough parallel to said bottom member, said top wall of said gripping rib being inclined at an angle of about 30-60° relative to said plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Window well assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said angle is 45°. ### Claim 4 Window well assembly of the type adapted for below soil grade attachment to a foundational member adjacent a basement window or the like, said assembly comprising an integral molded structure and having a bottom member adapted to provide a drainage site, an upstanding generally arcuately shaped upstanding wall connected to said bottom member and having a pair of axially extending, laterally opposed upstanding edge boundaries, said upstanding wall having an interior surface for facing said basement window and an exterior surface for facing away from said window to anchor said assembly in said soil, said exterior surface comprising two sets of arcuately shaped gripping ribs, each set being circumferentially spaced from the other along said exterior surface, each set comprising a plurality of said gripping ribs provided in axially spaced rows, each of said gripping ribs comprising an inclined top wall sloping upwardly proceeding radially inwardly from said exterior wall toward said interior and each said rib having a generally horizontal bottom wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Window well assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said rows of gripping ribs in one set are arranged in a common horizontal plane with said rows of gripping ribs in the other set. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) Window well assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said top rows of said gripping ribs are inclined at an angle of about 30-60° relative to a horizontal plane passing through said assembly parallel to said bottom member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Window well assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said top rows of said gripping ribs are inclined at an angle of about 45°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) Window well assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of axially spaced radially protruding fin members formed in said exterior surface and located between said two sets of gripping ribs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Window well assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said radially protruding fin members comprises a fin top wall member sloping upwardly proceeding radially inwardly from said exterior wall toward said interior. ### Claim 10 Window well assembly of the type adapted for below soil grade attachment to a foundational structure adjacent a basement window or the like, said assembly comprising a bottom member having a drain opening therein and an upstanding wall surrounding said bottom member, said bottom member comprising a plurality of rib members extending in a direction from said wall toward said drain opening ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Window well assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein spaces between said plurality of ribs define drainage channels terminating proximate said drain opening ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Window well assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said channels terminate at a generally chevron-shaped pool surrounding said drain opening.